Quick Takes: Vanderbilt too much in 10-0 run-rule win over Vols in conference semifinals

Tennessee’s run in Hoover at the Southeastern Conference Tournament ended Saturday afternoon in the semifinal round as Vanderbilt controlled the contest from the onset in the 10-0 run-rule win.

It’s the third time this season Tennessee has fallen via the run-rule. Vanderbilt plated 10 runs without an extra base hit in the contest.

The Vols (43-16) head home and await their NCAA Tournament appointment. Tennessee is right in the middle of an NCAA Regional hosting conversation, having played back onto the hosting line in recent projections following wins over Alabama and top-seeded Texas in Hoover.

NCAA will announce the 16 regional hosting sites on X, Sunday night at 8 PM ET. The full NCAA Tournament bracket will be unveiled Monday at 12 pm ET. Tennessee entered the day with a top-10 RPI and 18 wins over SEC opponents on the year. Ole Miss, TCU, Georgia Tech, Southern Miss, Dallas batiste, UCLA and Alabama are also battling for the final few host slots.  

No. 4 seed Vanderbilt (41-16) put up crooked numbers in the second inning (4 runs) and third inning (2 runs) to take control with an early 7-0 lead to go along with a run-scoring first. Tennessee had the first two batters walk in the baseball game, but failed to bring them home, going 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position in the first inning. It would be that kind of ballgame.    

Tegan Kuhns (L, 2-4) took home the loss after allowing four runs over just 11 innings in the start. Connor Fennell (W, 7-0) earned thew victory in relief after tossing the final three innings in a scoreless effort.  

With the walk in the first inning, Andrew Fischer has reached base safely in all 59 games this season and 62-straight dating back to last season while with Ole Miss.

Short Outing for Tegan Kuhns

Tennessee hoped for a good start from its freshman righty on Saturday in the semifinal round against Vanderbilt. Instead, it was a short outing that forced Frank Anderson to the bullpen in the second inning.

Base runners immediately gave Tennessee trouble in the bottom of the first as Vanderbilt took a 1-0 lead on the aggressive plays. A leadoff single turned into stealing second base on the first pitch of the ensuing at-bat. A single up the middle from Ruley nelson got the Commodores on the board with a 1-0 lead heading to the second.

Vanderbilt added four more runs in the second off five hits and took advantage of one costly error at second base by Dean Curley.

Jacob Humphrey singled in the second run of the ballgame on a drive up the middle. With runners at the corners and one out, Mike Mancini executed a nice safety squeeze bunt to second base. Curley charged, fielded and flipped to first base (form the glove). The ball sailed away from Andrew Fischer and the second run of the play scored via the error. One batter later, Rustan Rigdon singled in another on a drive up the middle.

Just like that, it was 5-0 in the second inning. Dylan Loy was called on out of the Tennessee bullpen following the Humphrey single, but all four runs were charged to the freshman righty in the inning – even the error runs as they came with just one out.

Kuhns’ 1.1 innings of work was tied for the second-shortest outing of the season for the rookie. The freshman has gotten through the fourth inning only once over his past eight appearances. His four earned runs tied for the most he’d allowed in any appearance this season.  

By the end, Tennessee’s starter lasted only 33 pitches (16 strikes), allowing the four runs off five hits with one strikeout and no walks. Not the best day at the office.

Another Sloppy Inning in the Third

Vanderbilt added on to its lead with two runs in the third inning scoring off just one hit. Another defensive error was costly but it was two wild pitches with runners at third base that plated the two runs of the frame. Not Great.

Tennessee had two outs on the scoreboard with a runner at first base. Colin Barczi then reached base on a ground ball that was hit to short. Gavin Kilen botched the transition from glove to throwing hand and everyone was safe. From there, Jonathan Vastine walked to load the bases. A wild pitch plated the first run before Tanner Franklin was called out of the Tennessee bullpen.   

Another wild pitch plated Barczi from third with two runners in scoring position. Finally, a strikeout of Jacob Humphrey ended the sloppy inning with Vanderbilt building its lead to 7-0.

The first two pitchers in the ballgame for Tennessee (Kuhns, Loy) lasted just 1.1 innings. Franklin was then the pitcher in the ballgame as the Vols would be forced to patchwork on the mound the rest of the way.

Power Outage

Baseball is a game of failure and Saturday that was evident for the Vols at the plate. It’s also a cruel game considering Tennessee had already hammered out 22 runs off 29 hits in the first two wins in Hoover over Alabama and Texas. The Vols were swinging the bats well, but that did not carry over to the semifinal round against Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Tennessee began the game with back-to-back walks in the first inning, but failed to drive in a run, going 0-for-3 with runners in scoring position, with three-straight strikeouts to end the threat. That would be a sign to come. Tennessee put just three guys on base form the second to sixth innings before registering a pair of pinch-hit base runners in the seventh prior to being run-ruled.    

The Vols were retired nine-straight times by Cody Bowker from the first inning to the third. Reliever Connor Fennell retired his first eight batters when entering the ballgame in the fifth inning.

Overall, Tennessee went just 4-for-25 (.160) at the plate and 2-for-10 (.200) with runners on base. The Vols were 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position in the ballgame and were 2-for-8 (.250) leading off innings.

Tough ending to a solid hitting performance in Hoover.   

Updated SEC Tournament Results

Tuesday, May 20 – First Round        
Game 1: [9] Alabama 4, [16] Missouri 1
Game 2: [12] Oklahoma 5, [13] Kentucky 1
Game 3: [10] Florida 11, South Carolina 3
Game 4: [14] Texas A&M 9, [11] Mississippi State 0 (Postponed to Wednesday morning)

Wednesday, May 21 – Second Round         
Game 5: [8] Tennessee 15, [9] Alabama 10
Game 6: [12] Oklahoma 3, [5] Georgia 2
Game 7: [7] Ole Miss 3, [10] Florida 1
Game 8: [14] Texas A&M 3, [6] Auburn 2 (Thursday morning)

Thursday, May 22 – Quarterfinals  
Game 9:  [8] Tennessee 7, [1] Texas 5 (12 Inn)
Game 10: [4] Vanderbilt 6, [12] Oklahoma 1

Friday, May 23 – Quarterfinals        
Game 11:  [7] Ole Miss 5, [2] Arkansas 2
Game 12: [3] LSU 4, [14] Texas A&M 3

Saturday, May 24 – Semifinals       
Game 13:  [4] Vanderbilt 10, [8] Tennessee 0 (7 innings)
Game 14: [7] Ole Miss vs. [3] LSU – TBD [SECN]

Sunday, May 25 – Championship Game    
Game 15:  [4] Vanderbilt vs. Winner Game 14 – 3 p.m. [ESPN2]